Job Discussion Forums

jonniboy · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:47 pm Post subject: Berlin - what's the real deal?

Yes I've read all the stories on here and grim they are too. Furthermore my German friends there have told me how bad the economy is and I figured that if it's that bad for natives, a foreigner who doesn't speak German would have it worse. Nonetheless, Berlin remains one of my favourite cities in the world and if I could go there to work I would. So in that spirit, how much could a native speaker with EU passports, 5 years experience and CELTA reasonably expect to earn after taxes and deductions?

Jetset · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 74

I'm guessing like 1000 euros net..

Berlin is the shit though! i recommend living in Prenzlauerberg mann - es ist wunderschon, und da ist viele nicht teuer wohnungen Wink

you dont move to berlin for the money thats for sure, but wicked city to live in.

japanman · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England

Why is Berlin such a great city to live in? I've never been there so i'd love to know why. Planning a trip there next year you see.
All kinds of horrendous places are great to some people. I lived in Bangkok for a year and heard loads of people go on about how amazing it is, my opinion was a bit different to that. It's superfical hole. Also, lived in Osaka for three years, same old story. Loads of people love it but it's like a mixture between a spolit kid with too much pocket money and an old slag with too much make-up. However, most people say Kyoto isn't a good place to live at all. Been in Kyoto for five years and generaly enjoy it.
Anyway enough of this waffling. What are the plus points?

jonniboy · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:31 pm Post subject:

1000 euro?! Jesus. That wouldn't keep a guy in beer. It would also be a near 40% drop on what I get in Riga and I doubt I'd be able to have a nice city centre flat for 180 euro a month either. Definitely agree about the "no better place to be poor" thing but properly enjoying big cities like that needs money.

So many possible great places to teach, too many p*ss poor salaries to be earned in them...

jonniboy · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 11:29 am Post subject:

japanman · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England

It is indeed true, hell to some people can be heaven to others.

So, what would you say are the negative points about Berlin?

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

-It is full of foreigners who think this -

"und da ist viele nicht teuer wohnungen"

is German !

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Hod

It may be a kind of German but is it is full of the most basic mistakes !

jonniboy · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:51 pm Post subject:

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

japanman · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England

We appear to have gone off-topic a bit here. So what are the negative points of being in Berlin? Apart from the lack of grammatical accuracy of the non-German population. That is pretty universal I think, you should hear some of the shocking stuff people come out with in Japanese.

Hod · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Posts: 1613 Location: Home

He started it! Nothing wrong with Chavsberg de la Frontera.

OK, I live in Berlin, but I�m an engineer. I was a teacher before in Frankfurt so can sort of comment.

With all its international bankers and such, Frankfurt has language schools on every corner. Whereas Berlin has very little commerce and industry but what it does have is humungous unemployment. I�ve not actively gone looking for schools here, but there just doesn�t seem to be as many as a place like Frankfurt.

So, you asked for just the negatives, and they have got to be � less work available.

japanman · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 281 Location: England

Suffering similar things over here too. there are just too many English speakers here looking for too few jobs. a big chain school went bankrupt last month, leaving 4000 teachers unemployed. Suddenly it's too easy for companies to find teachers and as a result the salary and conditions decline.
If i move to Europe though, i'd like to do something other than teaching but I don't know what. Came over to Asia ten years ago to have a laugh but now find myseld skilless. Common story though I expect.
What can you do in Germany other than teaching English? I can speak some German but i'm studying every day.